U.S. patent number 11,059,361 [Application Number 16/120,671] was granted by the patent office on 2021-07-13 for high voltage battery pack support and isolation for electrified vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Hari Krishna Addanki, Marcela Arana, Alexander Arena, Erik Billimoria, Jeffrey Ronald Bohmer, Jesus Cardoso, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Eid Farha, Kevin A. Montgomery, Mikolaj Tyksinski, Jeffrey A. Walesch.
United States Patent |
11,059,361 |
Bohmer , et al. |
July 13, 2021 |
High voltage battery pack support and isolation for electrified
vehicles
Abstract
This disclosure details systems and methods for supporting and
isolating vehicle body mounted battery packs from various vehicle
loads. An exemplary electrified vehicle may include a frame, a
battery support structure mounted to the frame, a battery pack, and
one or more isolators. The battery pack is supported by the battery
support structure but is not mechanically coupled to the frame. The
isolator is mounted between the battery pack and the battery pack
support structure for isolating the battery pack from loads that
may be imparted on the frame and/or the battery support
structure.
Inventors: |
Bohmer; Jeffrey Ronald (Monroe,
MI), Arena; Alexander (Canton, MI), Tyksinski;
Mikolaj (Madison, WI), Billimoria; Erik (Canton, MI),
Montgomery; Kevin A. (Royal Oak, MI), Addanki; Hari
Krishna (Novi, MI), Farha; Eid (Ypsilanti, MI),
Cardoso; Jesus (Saline, MI), Arana; Marcela (Plymouth,
MI), Dhindsa; Sukhwinder Singh (Windsor, CA),
Walesch; Jeffrey A. (Canton, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
(Dearborn, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005675234 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/120,671 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200070639 A1 |
Mar 5, 2020 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M
50/242 (20210101); B60L 50/64 (20190201); B60K
1/04 (20130101); B62D 65/024 (20130101); H01M
50/249 (20210101); B60K 2001/0438 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60K
1/04 (20190101); B62D 65/02 (20060101); B60L
50/64 (20190101); H01M 50/242 (20210101); H01M
50/249 (20210101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
V Ruiz, et al., A review of international abuse testing standards
and regulations for lithium ion batteries in electric and hybrid
electric vehicles, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 81
(2018) 1427-1452. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Frick; Emma K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Coppiellie; David Carlson, Gaskey
& Olds
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrified vehicle, comprising: a frame; a battery support
structure mounted to the frame; a battery pack supported by the
battery support structure; and an isolator mounted between the
battery pack and the battery support structure, wherein the
isolator includes an outer bushing, an inner bushing, and a damping
portion between the outer bushing and the inner bushing, wherein
the battery support structure is a metallic platform that is a
completely separate component from an enclosure assembly of the
battery pack, wherein the battery support structure is mechanically
coupled to the vehicle frame by a plurality of fasteners.
2. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame
includes a first rail, a second rail, and a cross member extending
between the first rail and the second rail, and the battery pack is
at least partially between the first rail and the second rail.
3. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein a gap
extends between a tray of the enclosure assembly and the battery
support structure.
4. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
metallic platform includes an outer frame and a plurality of beams
that connect between members of the outer frame.
5. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of fasteners are bolts or screws.
6. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
battery pack, the isolator, and the battery support structure are
coupled together by a second plurality of fasteners.
7. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
damping portion includes rubber.
8. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, comprising a
plurality of isolators mounted between the battery pack and the
battery support structure.
9. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
electrified vehicle is a battery electric pickup truck.
10. An electrified vehicle, comprising: a frame; a battery support
structure mounted to the frame; a battery pack supported by the
battery support structure; and an isolator mounted between the
battery pack and the battery support structure, wherein a first
fastener extends through the battery support structure and through
the isolator and then into the battery pack, and a second fastener
extends through a mounting flange of the isolator and into the
battery support structure.
11. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10, wherein the
first fastener and the second fastener extend in opposite
directions.
12. An electrified vehicle, comprising: a frame; a battery support
structure mounted to the frame; a battery pack supported by the
battery support structure; an isolator mounted between the battery
pack and the battery support structure; and a first fastener for
mounting the battery support structure to the frame, a second
fastener for coupling the battery pack, the isolator, and the
battery support structure together, and a third fastener for
mounting the isolator to the battery support structure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates to electrified vehicle battery packs, and
more particularly to supporting and isolating vehicle body mounted
battery packs from various vehicle loads.
BACKGROUND
The desire to reduce automotive fuel consumption and emissions has
been well documented. Therefore, electrified vehicles are being
developed that reduce or completely eliminate reliance on internal
combustion engines. In general, electrified vehicles differ from
conventional motor vehicles because they are selectively driven by
one or more battery powered electric machines. Conventional motor
vehicles, by contrast, rely exclusively on the internal combustion
engine to propel the vehicle.
A high voltage battery pack typically powers the electric machines
and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle.
SUMMARY
An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the
present disclosure includes, among other things, a frame, a battery
support structure mounted to the frame, a battery pack supported by
the battery support structure, and an isolator mounted between the
battery pack and the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing electrified
vehicle, the frame includes a first rail, a second rail, and a
cross member extending between the first rail and the second rail,
and the battery pack is at least partially between the first rail
and the second rail.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the battery support structure is a metallic
platform that is a completely separate component from an enclosure
assembly of the battery pack.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, a gap extends between a tray of the enclosure
assembly and the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the metallic platform includes an outer frame
and a plurality of beams that connect between members of the outer
frame.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the battery support structure is mechanically
coupled to the vehicle frame by a plurality of fasteners.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the plurality of fasteners are bolts or
screws.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the battery pack, the isolator, and the
battery support structure are coupled together by a plurality of
fasteners.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, a first fastener extends through the battery
support structure and through the isolator and then into the
battery pack, and a second fastener extends through a mounting
flange of the isolator and into the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the first fastener and the second fastener
extend in opposite directions.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the electrified vehicles includes a first
fastener for mounting the battery support structure to the frame, a
second fastener for coupling the battery pack, the isolator, and
the battery support structure together, and a third fastener for
mounting the isolator to the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the isolator includes an outer bushing, an
inner bushing, and a damping portion between the outer bushing and
the inner bushing.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the damping portion includes rubber.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, a plurality of isolators are mounted between
the battery pack and the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
electrified vehicles, the electrified vehicle is a battery electric
pickup truck.
A method according to another exemplary aspect of the present
disclosure includes, among other things, mounting an isolator
between a battery pack and a battery support structure, and
mounting the battery support structure to a frame of an electrified
vehicle. Once mounted, the battery support structure supports the
battery pack and the isolator isolates the battery pack from
vehicle loads.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing method,
mounting the isolator includes inserting a first fastener through
the battery support structure, then through the isolator, and then
into the battery pack.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing
methods, mounting the isolator includes inserting a second fastener
through the isolator and into the battery support structure.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
methods, mounting the battery support structure includes inserting
a plurality of fasteners through the battery support structure and
into the frame.
In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing
methods, mounting the isolator is performed prior to mounting the
battery support structure to the frame.
The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding
paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings,
including any of their various aspects or respective individual
features, may be taken independently or in any combination.
Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable
to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.
The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description
can be briefly described as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrified vehicle.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary battery pack of an electrified
vehicle.
FIG. 3 illustrates a battery pack mounting system for mounting a
battery pack to an electrified vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through section 4-4 of the battery
pack mounting system of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the battery pack mounting system of
FIG. 3.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary isolator of the battery
pack mounting system of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This disclosure details systems and methods for supporting and
isolating vehicle body mounted battery packs from various vehicle
loads. An exemplary electrified vehicle may include a frame, a
battery support structure mounted to the frame, a battery pack, and
one or more isolators. The battery pack is supported by the battery
support structure but is not directly coupled to the frame. The
isolator is mounted between the battery pack and the battery pack
support structure for isolating the battery pack from loads that
may be imparted onto the frame and/or the battery support
structure. These and other features are discussed in greater detail
in the following paragraphs of this detailed description.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrified vehicle 10. The
electrified vehicle 10 may include any type of electrified
powertrain. In an embodiment, the electrified vehicle 10 is a
battery electric vehicle (BEV). However, the concepts described
herein are not limited to BEVs and could extend to other
electrified vehicles, including, but not limited to, hybrid
electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
(PHEV's), fuel cell vehicles, etc. Therefore, although not
specifically shown in this embodiment, the electrified vehicle 10
could be equipped with an internal combustion engine that can be
employed either alone or in combination with other energy sources
to propel the electrified vehicle 10.
In the illustrated embodiment, the electrified vehicle 10 is a full
electric vehicle propelled solely through electric power, such as
by one or more electric machines 12, without any assistance from an
internal combustion engine. The electric machine 12 may operate as
an electric motor, an electric generator, or both. The electric
machine 12 receives electrical power and provides a rotational
output torque to one or more drive wheels 14.
A voltage bus 16 electrically connects the electric machine 12 to a
battery pack 18. The battery pack 18 is an exemplary electrified
vehicle battery. The battery pack 18 may be a high voltage traction
battery pack that includes a plurality of battery arrays 20 (i.e.,
battery assemblies or groupings of rechargeable battery cells)
capable of outputting electrical power to operate the electric
machine 12 and/or other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle
10. Other types of energy storage devices and/or output devices can
also be used to electrically power the electrified vehicle 10.
In an embodiment, the electrified vehicle 10 is a pickup truck.
However, the electrified vehicle 10 could also be a car, a van, a
sport utility vehicle, or any other type of vehicle. Although a
specific component relationship is illustrated in the figures of
this disclosure, the illustrations are not intended to limit this
disclosure. The placement and orientation of the various components
of the electrified vehicle 10 are shown schematically and could
vary within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, the various
figures accompanying this disclosure are not necessarily drawn to
scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show
certain details of a particular component.
The battery pack 18 may be mounted at various locations of the
electrified vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the electrified vehicle
10 includes a passenger cabin 22 and a cargo space 24 (e.g., a
truck bed) located to the rear of the passenger cabin 22. A floor
pan 26 may separate the passenger cabin 22 from a vehicle frame 28,
which generally establishes the vehicle underbody. The battery pack
18 may be suspended from or otherwise mounted to the vehicle frame
28 such that it is remote from both the passenger cabin 22 and the
cargo space 24. The battery pack 18 therefore does not occupy space
that would otherwise be available for carrying passengers or
cargo.
Due to its underbody mounting location, the battery pack 18 may be
susceptible to various vehicle loads including, but not limited to,
impact loads (e.g., imparted during collisions and running
clearance events, for example), durability loads, torsional loads,
bending loads, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) loads. A
novel mounting system 30 for mounting the battery pack 18 to the
electrified vehicle 10 is therefore proposed in this disclosure. As
discussed in greater detail below, the mounting system 30 is
capable of both supporting the battery pack 18 and isolating the
battery pack 18 from the various loads that may be imparted onto
the vehicle frame 28 during operation of the electrified vehicle
10.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 18 of FIG. 1.
The battery pack 18 may house a plurality of battery cells 32 that
store energy for powering various electrical loads of the
electrified vehicle 10, such as the electric machine 12 of FIG. 1,
for example. In an embodiment, the battery pack 18 houses
prismatic, lithium-ion battery cells. However, battery cells having
other geometries (cylindrical, pouch, etc.), other chemistries
(nickel-metal hydride, lead-acid, etc.), or both could
alternatively be utilized within the scope of this disclosure.
The battery pack 18 may additionally house one or more battery
electronic components 34. The battery electronic component 34 could
include a bussed electrical center (BEC), a battery electric
control module (BECM), wiring harnesses, wiring loops, I/O
connectors etc., or any combination of these battery electronic
components.
The battery cells 32 may be grouped together in one or more battery
arrays 20. In an embodiment, the battery pack 18 includes two
battery arrays 20. However, the total numbers of battery cells 32
and battery arrays 20 employed within the battery pack 18 are not
intended to limit this disclosure.
An enclosure assembly 36 may house each battery array 20 and
battery electronic component 34 of the battery pack 18. Since the
battery arrays 20 and the battery electronic components 34 are
housed inside the enclosure assembly 36, these components are
considered battery internal components of the battery pack 18.
Although an example placement of the battery array 20 and the
battery electronic components 34 is shown in FIG. 2, this
particular placement is not intended to limit this disclosure. The
battery internal components of the battery pack 18 can be arranged
in any configuration inside the enclosure assembly 36.
In an embodiment, the enclosure assembly 36 is a sealed enclosure.
The enclosure assembly 36 may include any size, shape, and
configuration within the scope of this disclosure.
The enclosure assembly 36 may include a tray 38 and a cover 40. The
tray 38 and the cover 40 cooperate to surround and enclose the
battery arrays 20 and the battery electronic components 34. The
tray 38 may provide an open area 42 for holding the battery arrays
20 and the battery electronic components 34. After positioning the
battery arrays 20 and the battery electronic components 34 within
the open area 42, the cover 40 may be seated and sealed to the tray
38 to enclose the battery arrays 20 and the battery electronic
components 34.
In an embodiment, the enclosure assembly 36 is a metallic-based
component. For example, the tray 38 and the cover 40 could be
constructed out of aluminum or steel.
In another embodiment, the enclosure assembly 36 is a polymer-based
component. For example, the tray 38 and the cover 40 could be
constructed (e.g., molded) of expanded polymer-based materials,
solid polymer-based materials, or a combination of such materials.
Exemplary expanded polymer-based materials can include, but are not
limited to, expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, and
expanded polyethylene. Exemplary solid polymer-based materials can
include, but are not limited to, sheet moulding compounds (e.g.,
glass-fiber reinforced polyester), polypropylene, and
polyamine.
In yet another embodiment, the enclosure assembly 36 could be
constructed of both metallic-based and polymer-based components.
For example, the tray 38 could be a metallic-based component and
the cover 40 could be a polymer-based component. Other
configurations are also contemplated within the scope of this
disclosure.
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate an exemplary mounting system 30 for
mounting the battery pack 18 to an electrified vehicle, such as the
electrified vehicle 10 of FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the mounting
system 30 includes a vehicle frame 28, a battery support structure
44, one or more isolators 46, and a plurality of fasteners 48A,
48B, and 48C.
The vehicle frame 28 (sometimes referred to simply as a "frame") is
the main supporting structure of the electrified vehicle 10, to
which various components are attached, either directly or
indirectly. The vehicle frame 28 may include a unibody
construction, in which the chassis and body of the electrified
vehicle are integrated into one another, or may be part of a
body-on-frame construction. The vehicle frame 28 may be made of a
metallic material, such as steel, carbon steel, or an aluminum
alloy, as non-limiting examples.
The vehicle frame 28 includes a plurality of rails 50 (sometimes
referred to as "frame rails" or "beams"). FIGS. 3-5 show two such
rails 50. The rails 50 are spaced apart from one another and extend
longitudinally to establish a length of the vehicle frame 28. A
plurality of cross members 52 may extend between the rails 50 of
the vehicle frame 28. The cross members 52 may generally extend
transversely relative to the rails 50 for establishing a width of
the vehicle frame 28.
The battery support structure 44 may be a separate and distinct
component from the enclosure assembly 36 of the battery pack 18.
For example, the tray 38 of the enclosure assembly 36 may separate
the battery internal components of the battery pack 18 from direct
contact with the battery support structure 44. A gap G may extend
between the tray 38 and the battery support structure 44 (see FIG.
4).
The battery support structure 44 may be a relatively rigid,
metallic platform that supports the battery pack 18 when the
battery pack 18 is in its mounted position relative to the
electrified vehicle 10 (see, e.g., FIG. 3). In an embodiment, the
battery support structure 44 is made of steel. However, other
relatively rigid materials are also contemplated within the scope
of this disclosure.
In an embodiment, the battery support structure 44 includes an
outer frame 45 and a plurality of beams 47 that connect laterally
between members of the outer frame 45. The beams 47 may be
positioned to increase the strength and stiffness of the battery
support structure 44. The specific arrangement of the outer frame
45 and the beams 47 is not intended to limit this disclosure.
In addition to supporting the battery pack 18, the battery support
structure 44 may also stiffen the vehicle frame 28 for reducing
torsional twist and may help prevent the rails 50 of the vehicle
frame 28 from collapsing toward one another during side impact
events. The battery support structure 44 may therefore
substantially prevent various loads from being imparted to the
battery pack 18.
The battery support structure 44 may be mechanically affixed to the
vehicle frame 28 using a plurality of the fasteners 48A. In an
embodiment, the rails 50 of the vehicle frame 28 include a
multitude of brackets 54 that are configured for receiving the
fasteners 48A. For example, each bracket 54 may include a receiving
component 56 that is configured to fixedly accept at least one of
the fasteners 48A. In an embodiment, the receiving components 56
include receiving nuts or dowels that can be embedded within a
surface of each bracket 54. In another embodiment, the receiving
components 56 include threaded openings formed in the brackets
54.
The fasteners 48A may be relatively rigid bolts or screws. Other
rigid fasteners could also be used within the scope of this
disclosure. The fasteners 48A provide high strength connectors for
fixedly mounting the battery support structure 44 directly to the
vehicle frame 28.
In the mounted position of the battery pack 18 as shown in FIG. 3,
the battery pack 18 is at least partially between the rails 50 of
the vehicle frame 28 but is not mechanically coupled to the vehicle
frame 28. Rather, the battery pack 18 is mechanically decoupled
from the vehicle frame 28. In this disclosure, the term
"mechanically coupled" means fixedly connected, whereas the term
"mechanically decoupled" denotes an absence of any direct fixed
connection such that the vehicle frame 28 and the battery support
structure 44 substantially absorb any momentum during vehicle
loading events rather than the battery pack 18.
One or more of the isolators 46 may be positioned between the
battery pack 18 and the battery support structure 44. The isolators
46, which may be referred to as bushings, are configured to dampen
energy that is transmitted to the vehicle frame 28 and/or the
battery support structure 44. Stated another way, the isolators 46
act as points of isolation for isolating the battery pack 18 from
vibrations and other high acceleration loads that may act on the
vehicle frame 28 and/or the battery support structure 44.
The isolators 46 may permit a relatively small amount of movement
to occur between the battery pack 18 and the battery support
structure 44. For example, the isolators 46 may allow the battery
pack 18 to slightly move in multiple degrees of freedom relative to
the battery support structure 44 in order to create a modal
misalignment between the battery pack 18 and the battery support
structure 44. This modal misalignment is effective to isolate the
battery pack 18 from at least some of the loads that may act on the
vehicle frame 28.
Referring now primarily to FIG. 4, the battery pack 18, the
isolators 46, and the battery support structure 44 may be connected
together using the fasteners 48B and 48C. The total number of
fasteners 48B and 48C employed by the mounting system 30 may vary
per design and is therefore not intended to limit this disclosure.
In an embodiment, one of the fasteners 48B may extend through the
battery support structure 44, then through one of the isolators 46,
and then into the battery pack 18 in order to securely mount each
isolator 46 between the battery pack 18 and the battery support
structure 44, and two or more of the fasteners 48C may extend
through each of the isolators 46 to mount each isolator 46 to the
battery support structure 44. In general, the battery pack 18, the
isolators 46, and the battery support structure 44 may be coupled
together using the fasteners 48B, 48C before fixedly mounting the
battery support structure 44 to the vehicle frame 28 using the
fasteners 48A. In another embodiment, the fasteners 48A, 48B, and
48C each include different sizes.
The insertion direction of the fasteners 48C may be opposite from
the insertion direction of the fasteners 48A, 48B. In an
embodiment, the insertion direction of the fasteners 48C extends in
a direction from the battery pack 18 toward the battery support
structure 44, whereas the insertion direction of the fasteners 48A,
48B extends in a direction from the battery support structure
toward the battery pack 18.
FIGS. 6A (side view) and 6B (top view), with continued reference to
FIG. 4, illustrate an exemplary isolator 46 that can be used within
the mounting system 30 for dampening vehicle loads, thereby
preventing such loads from imparting into the battery pack 18. The
isolator 46 may include an outer bushing 58, an inner bushing 60,
and a damping portion 62 generally between the outer bushing 58 and
the inner bushing 60. The damping portion 62 secures the outer
bushing 58 to the inner bushing 60. The inner bushing 60 may be
substantially cylindrical and receives a shaft of the fastener 48B
(see FIG. 4). The outer bushing 58 may include a cylindrical
portion 64 that is generally concentric with the inner bushing 60
and a mounting flange 66 that projects outwardly from the
cylindrical portion 64. The fasteners 48C may be received through
openings 68 formed in the mounting flange 66.
The isolator 46 may additionally include a first cover plate 70 at
a first end of the damping portion 62 and a second cover plate 72
at a second opposite end of the damping portion 62. The damping
portion 62 may thus interconnect between the first and second cover
plates 70, 72. In an mounted position of the isolator 46 (see FIG.
4), the first cover plate 70 interfaces with the battery pack 18
and the second cover plate 72 interfaces with the battery support
structure 44.
The damping portion 62 may be, for example, a high-carbon rubber
that is both elastomeric and, optionally, electrically conductive.
In other examples, the damping portion 62 is not electrically
conductive. The damping portion 62 could be made of other
elastomeric materials, including, polyurethane, silicones,
metal-filled silicones, etc. The damping portion 62 is compressible
relative to the outer bushing 58 and the inner bushing 60, by way
of the elastomeric material, which permits the outer bushing 58 to
move and flex relative to the inner bushing 60. While one exemplary
isolator 46 has been described, this disclosure extends to other
isolator configurations.
The exemplary battery pack mounting systems of this disclosure
provide unique mounting solutions for both supporting a battery
pack relative to an electrified vehicle and for isolating the
battery pack from various vehicle loads. One or more isolators of
the mounting system can substantially isolate the battery pack from
the vehicle loads, and a separate battery support structure of the
mounting system can support the battery pack while adding rigidity
and stiffness to the vehicle frame, thereby substantially reducing
the likelihood that torsional or impact loads acting upon the
vehicle frame can be transferred into the battery pack 18.
Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as
having specific components or steps, the embodiments of this
disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is
possible to use some of the components or features from any of the
non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components
from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify
corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings.
It should be understood that although a particular component
arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary
embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the
teachings of this disclosure.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and
not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art
would understand that certain modifications could come within the
scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims
should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this
disclosure.
* * * * *